Environmental Excellence Award

June 18, 2003

SEATTLE - Tumwater's Port Blakely Tree Farms has won the Association of Washington Business's (AWB) Environmental Excellence Award for its land and wildlife conservation.

AWB honored thirteen businesses for their contributions in environmental innovation, environmental education, land and wildlife conservation, resource conservation, environmental cleanup, air quality, energy conservation and creating livable communities.

Port Blakely Tree Farms was recognized for road improvements to reduce sedimentation and remove all fish passage barriers. The road improvements have made available over 88 miles of habitat to which fish did not previously have access.

The company was honored for developing a state-mandated road maintenance and abandonment plan four year ahead of deadline. In addition, Port Blakely has completed 71 percent of the fish passage work to date.

"The Environmental Excellence Award winners have set the standard for environmental responsibility in Washington state," AWB President Don Brunell said. "These corporate citizens prove that economic development and environmental protection can go hand in hand."

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) is Washington's oldest and largest statewide business organization. Formed in 1904, AWB has 3,700 members across the state and is Washington's state chamber of commerce. More than three-quarters of AWB members are small businesses.